16 days to NYCTri

I'm supposed to do another OWS tommorow, but I just got cold feet. Not because of the water, but just the idea of going swimming on my own, you know. I would go with friends, but I want to go before 10am and nobody I know will agree to that "early" time...

I've had a good week. I have some new workout buddies & we do indoor spinning together:) It's fabulous!!!

Otherwise, still strength training strong. I did my 10th strength circuit since June 1st. :) I've made much progress & I feel good about that. My swimming is ok. My running. I'm taking it easy because of the ankle still. I'm at 3 miles lately. My goal is to run 6 miles by July 12th. I think I can do it...

I'm definitely a morning workout person. No doubt. Then the rest of the day is mine!

Question for anyone who's done NYC Tri: Is the bike course really hilly?? I read somewhere that it's moderately hilly...that statement disturbs me...Anyone???

The trauma of trying on wetsuits

Ahhhh

So traumatic. I hate neoprene.

I'll be going with the long sleeved zoot

My first open water swim!!!!

I did it!

At the beach, in the ocean- swimming away for over an hour & holding my own pretty beautfully without a wetsuit. Wow!! Most people in the group had their wetsuits so they were floating better than I. I'm so friggin proud of myself. Someone bring on the cotton candy because I deserve a treat!!!

I learned a sexy move for going around buoy's. It felt pretty easy swimming in the ocean. Yeah yeah buoyancy. But I also think I've done my time especially when I was swimming intensely earlier this year. Damn is that water salty. I swallowed so much I had to pee AFTER I got out of the water.

I feel confident for my race, especially knowing that I'll be swimming with the current.

I'll be going to the SwimBikeRun store this week...

Getting stronger!!!

So I've been very consistent with my strength training program. The last time I'd had a consistent routine was July 2007, so it feels good to be back on track. It's a total body program and I strength train 2-3 times a week. For the past 4 weeks it's been going strong.

Yesterday I increased my bench press amount by 5lb and I also started to do wide grip bench presses in order to target my chest. Hopefully this will improve my pushups soon.

I woke up today & my chest hurts like bloody hell. My shoulders hurt, everything hurts today. I was going to go swimming at 5:30 am but instead extended my sleep time to 10:30 am. And I still hurt. I need to do at least some yoga today though. I'm not opposed to rest days at all. The sports masseuse will be back in town in two weeks and I'm definitely getting one of those before my race.

Tommorow is my first open water swim. Wish me luck!!!

Do athletes have clear skin?

I've been eating very well and training consistently, but my skin isn't clear. And no, I'm not doing this triathlon in order to attain clear skin, but usually, when I'm on track, my skin isn't acned and rashy. Ugh, I hate this. Cheap dermatologist anyone?

My new routine begins on Friday June 27th. From June 27th to July 20th, my excercise will be stepped up a little. I'll be adding morning yoga, dance & core routines & my exercise will be in the mornings except on Tuesdays when I have sword fighting & kickboxing in the PM. Just a little fun cross training, I guess.

I'm probably renting a wetsuit for this first race...

Outdoor training!!!

As the weeks move on, I'm transitioning to training in the parks & in open water. I'm quite excited about this. My gym membership ends soon , but come January, I might sign up again.

I almost bought a tennis racket yesterday, but decided to wait till after my race to play tennis:):):)

More actual training updates soon.

3...2...1...Step it up the Clean Crash week!

So tommorow is the start of me taking my training a little more seriously. I've been doing relatively ok. I'm struggling at times though. Today is an off day just so I can get my life in order, do grocery shopping etc. Staying motivated is really really hard for me right now. I do very well with AM workouts, but it's not always possible to leave my house at 5am, you know. I'm trying.

For the next seven days, I'll be eating pretty clean & healthy - eating enough and an lot though, but good stuff, sweating like a pig, sticking to my routine & hopefully enjoying the process...allergies are getting in the way though:(

heat wave...discipline...new trisuit!!

Hooray!!! The store replaced my trisuit. It's now proudly hanging in my room:)

This weekend I had a work retreat at this hotel in NJ. Guess who ate well throughout the stay and went to bed early and woke up at 5Am to do an intense exercise session????!!! Me!

I'm stronger than before. My current philosophy is working out smarter not longer or harder. I'm spending probably an hour in the gym lately, then I leave to live the rest of my life. I feel balanced & healthy because I just fit in what I need to do & do it throroughly instead of wasting mediocre hours.

I'd like to register for the Toronto Island Triathlon in August. This is what my workout has looked like this week:
Sunday: strength training
Monday: swimming & spinning
Tuesday: swimming & running

Oh- you wouldn't believe it! Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far. And guess who went to Bikram Yoga class just to add to the misery! Me!!! Crazy or hardcore? Does it matter??? I don't know how many liters of water I drank yesterday. Definitely enough!

If you're a triathlete in training too & you have a blog, leave a comment- would love to tap into more online tri support through reading blogs & such.

my first triathlon...tri tantrums

Thursday am I find myself at the gym at 5:30am in my brand new Danskin tri suit.

I did my first triathlon ever!!! I swam for 30 minutes, then cycled for 30 minutes, then ran for 30 minutes- one after the other & all in the same trisuit! It was awesome.

How do I feel about my first tri? Here are my numbered thoughts.(How organized am I!!)

1. Swimming with the tri-suit, I felt heavy and fat at first, then by the end it was better.

2. The tri-suit does improve my bouyancy so I'm not as concerned about drowining.

3. My stroke was good towards the end of my swim session. In terms of endurance, I just need to keep on swimming. I can feel my heart struggling to get stronger

4. The transition from swimming to cycling(indoor) was ok- it was just rather wet because I kept my trisuit on.

5. When I got off the bike and onto the treadmill, my legs felt like rubber. So friggin strange. Maybe that's why they call it the brick transition. I actually started out by walking, then went into my jog. I took it easy with slow increments in speed and my final speed was just the ten minute mile. I'm content with that because this is my first week getting back into running.

6. Afterwards I felt such wonderful accomplishment. I was a ball of sweat. Bathing in endorphins. Absolutely amazing.

7. I'm a triathlete!!!!

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3am the next morning I wake up and look at my trisuit. I notice a little defect. I'm freaking out. Yes- tantrum style. Internally I guess. I bought this from my all time favorite fitness store & it's an investment so I'm upset. I have to wait until the AM to call the company. Oh well. That's life. I must calm down & grow up.

I don't know why I'm wide awake so early. My sleep patterns are terrible. I do try awefully hard but I'm an early early early morning person.

Here's to a good week of training!!

I've been eating well & when I don't eat well, I just plan on improving the next time. I'm not eating meat(except fish) until after my triathlon. Yesterday I did exceptionally well with my eating habits. Free food was available all day at work, but because it was all bagels and pizza and cake, I brought my own lunch and breakfast- soup, blueberries, yogurt & tons of goodness:):):) Go me!!! Free food doesn't entice me anymore- what has happened to me???

Will post more update this weekend.

mid week 1 update- I bought a tri-suit

My body hurts from running. My allergies are flaring & I'm a non-believer in medicating. Running is hard. I am sleeping way too much. I hate when my hamstring cramps. I can't imagine being able to swim for a mile. Morning workouts are hard to do before I go to work. Evening workouts are hard to do after work. I think I'll workout in my sleep.

The theme of this training week is "What was I thinking when I signed up for the triathlon?!"

I bought my tri-suit from Danskin yesterday! I need to get a wetsuit soon too.

Need to find some sprint & olympic distance triathlons to do in Canada. Any insight on this is much appreciated:)

Training Day 1

So y'all know I haven't been running since the Turkey Trot race in November due to my injury.

Anyhow, today I was supposed to take 7am yoga, but shock horror, I overslept. 8:30 am a text message from my roommate wakes me up. "Would you like to go running?"

dum dum dum...

Ok, I NEVER say no to someone wanting to sweat with me so I find my dusty running gear and hear this!

I can still run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, minus the misery I feel while doing it (this used to be bliss for me...), I can do it! We ran 2.5 miles - running the whole way! Well- he is 6 ft 3 & uber athletic, I am 5 ft 2 & pseudo athletic so I'm sure it was more like a walk for him!! I came back drenched in liquid, but still going strong! Wow.

Pace needs to improve majorly, but I'm more concerned with endurance. I need to build back the kind of endurance that can run for 6 miles and still feel like running for 6 more miles after. I'm also good at running with other people so I'm going to start enlisting everyone I know to come running with me any chance I get, even at work.

No pain in ankle at all. For that I am grateful. I think the yoga & taking it easy has helped, as well as the goodness that comes from the universe & other powers.

I'll be posting my training updates & plan once I have it. I'll be updating blog a lot. I need so much encouragement now more than ever. Triathlete Wannabe, Triathlete Gonnabe.

Going strong... except...

I need to step up the swimming and begin to run. I need to get back to strength training . My routine will include those things from June 1st...Right now I'm doing a lot of cross training- I've been spinning twice in the Am before work this morning. I went to sword class for the third week in a row. I also went to kick boxing for the third week in a row. I love routine & consistency. It's orgasmic.

I'm regaining that athlete feeling. Tummy getting flatter. Eating well.

Anyone who can help me answer this question- are bananas good for me?

Back in the groove!!!

Monday - Saturday here is what I did:
Bootcamp class on thurs- it kicked my butt, but it's totally what I need!
Sword fighting class on Tues!
Kickboxing on Tues!
Spinning on Wednesday
Total body class on Monday
Swimming on Monday
Session with Trainer on Saturday
Dance class on Saturday

Some yoga throughout the week.

The session with the trainer was intense- he had me working on these glide like objects changing my centers of gravity to work my inner thighs mostly because I have thunderous thighs. He made me do running drills on the stairs, push ups, cruches with the ball- feet holding the ball up & crunching up to the ball. I'm missing speedball class again today:(:(:(

I might check out another branch of my gym this week because I hear they give you free workout clothes and all!!

I clearly did start out slow, but still worked hard.

I'm taking today off to get my life in order so I can focus on organized exercise this week without. Laundry's all done just trying to tie up some loose bits. I will kick even more butt this week!

2.5 months to go!!!!

I haven't exercised in almost a month due to bla bla bla.

A few days ago I had my swimming evaluated. The verdict was that I have perfect stroke mechanics but I need to loosen up in the water...

not bad, right? The same can be said about my boxing skills. Always very stiff.

More updates soon...I'm getting back into it- took yoga the other day. I'm cleaning my house and will be hittin' up the spinning...

Upcoming 8 week training program...

During May & June I'll be embarking on an intense training period as the triathlon date fast approaches. I'm excited about that.

During the next two weeks I'm not going to be at the gym, but rather I'll take time out to make peace with my body, maybe do a few body weight excercises. I'll be out of the country mostly & formal exercise won't be accessible to me in the same way. I look forward to May & June. I'll also start taking a dance class in a few weeks & I'm excited about that.

Otherwise, I'll be trying to update even before the 8 week training program beginz...Thank you all for your support!

what to do when you have no time to exercise???

For the past week I've exercised twice. Been working till late. I thought I was gonna lose my mind, but I made it. My regular fitness routine starts tommorow. It's been hard, but I had a chance to reflect in really intense & sometimes self destructive ways.

The good thing is I'm back!!! & here to stay:):)

Spring update

Been doing ok. Taking rest time & sweating in healthy amounts & eating in healthy amounts.

I love my gym. I hate my job.

Nothing is new.

I want to write about my Triathlon bootcamp class that I took last Tuesday at the a*# crack of darn, but I really am too lazy to type.

I'm here.

I'm in a bit of a foul mood because I was looking forward to my training session today, but my trainer bailed at the last minute. Jerk. An emergency came up & I have to reschedule. The problem is that I won't have a free hour to spare for a few more weeks. At least not for that. I have plenty of tie for sillier things.

The strangest thing- people are super nice to me here at my new gym. I like it. I have made some awesome acquaintances & I'm already a groupie in this hot trainer's exercise classes. I mean I attend EVERY class the trainer teaches. Obsession much??!! No. Dedication to athleticism.

Getting back into the groove...

of exercise...after 3 rocky weeks.

Tommorow is my slow exercise day. Today I took three awesome classes & now I'm relaxing before I take my Yoga Basics class. My first real yoga class!!!!

Tommorow is an easy light day exercise wise.

I feel obese & that's a real issue for me:( It's hard to talk about this & have people tell me that I'm not fat, because honestly it doesn't help to hear such "encouragement". I love my body, but I also need to nurture it into the changes that it's going through.

In two weeks my life will be turned topsy turvy. Only for 10 days though. My exercise schedule will be stolen from me because I'll be working from 8Am - 8pm during that time period:( Next week is a 3 day weekend & for sure I will be swimming & spinnin' like a mad woman to make up for it.

On a not-so-good note, my ankle injury is rearing it's nasty head lately. Running is out of the question & I have no idea how I'll make it to the triathlon if I can't run. I have been walking on the treadmill though. The fact is I can't give up walking or else I wouldn't be able to get anywhere. I'm resting a lot though.

State of the art...

I'm a snob when it comes to the finer things in life...

I'm cancelling my gym memberships & yoga membership so that I can afford the fancy gym! I actually save quite a bit this way.
Ever since I made that decision, I can breathe easier & I feel happy. I start my exercise there today. I'm beginning a 6 week cross training routine. Then a break. Then an 8 week Olympic triathlon workout routine. then tapering...then triathlon!!!!! Wow!

I met a triathlete wannabe this weekend. Good to know I'm not alone!

I'm so glad I have this blog. I appreciate the advice & encouragement others leave for me & the experiences others share on their blogs.

I did get a new swim suit 3 weeks ago & I followed the advice of a blog reader who told me where to go for expert advice. Hooray! I ended up getting a TYR diamond back. Supposedly chlorine resistant. Either way, this is the last swimsuit I buy before I buy my trisuit in June:):):):):):):):)

After my 2 week exercise hiatus...

On Saturday I returned to my lovely world of sweat...I certainly jumpstarted it.

You are not going to believe this, but I made strength gains just from taking time off!! I'm benching 10lb more. I'm using 3 lb more weight in my sculpt class...
It's quite exciting really.

In yoga class though, I seem to have deteriorated:( But I'll get it back in a few days...patience.

On Sunday, DOMS was killing me & yoga class was almost impossible to get through, but I made it.

Something great happened at Spin class on Sunday. This woman I don't know came up to me after class & said,
"You have such perfect form & I'm always looking at you to figure out how to fix my own form"
Wow!!! It was so good to hear. I'm always working on my form. Good form sometimes takes time.

For those of you that spin...you know position 2? I always engage my core & the rest of my body is still & balanced except for my legs that are pedaling...you can balance a pot of water on my head & it wouldn't fall...I think that's why the woman commented on my form...I love second position. Great for quads.

My push up form is pathetic- better now, but still not good enough at all for me. But it takes constant practice & strengthening of core, chest & tricep to get to the absolute perfect form. A lot of people can crank out pushups with bad form & they don't even know it...Very bad for the lower back to abandon form like that...

I'm back in sweatville!